A hard conversation

It had been such a nice night with friends, quickly forgotten when only a few days later, Vi found herself standing outside Club Nysa. Her hand tight in Erik’s, her face half turned into a scowl as she stared up towards the top level of the building, the small abutting balcony of Maki’s penthouse slightly visible past the rest of the floors.

“We can always come back.” Erik suggests, gripping his phone nervously, the last red text bubble from Maki taunting the couple.

“I have to.”

“You don’t.”

“I do. I want you to get back to working with her. Even if we’re not friends anymore, we need to talk it out.” She says, an air of finality in her words; it’s clear that Erik won’t be able to do anything to change her mind.

“I did a shift…”

She glares over at him, “One. You did one. I’m the one that encouraged you to get a job. I can’t let this petty shit screw you over too.”

“It’s not petty, but…” He says quickly, as her eyes narrow, “I understand what you’re saying.”

He looks up at her, fully aware of her clammy hands, “Shall I text her?”

She nods.

The elevator dings, Vi stepping out in front of Erik; she pauses as Erik walks up beside her.

A pang of sympathy flows through them both, but definitely more for Erik; Maki sits awkwardly on the couch, the small coffee table in front of her organised to a point that does not at all align with her personality. A loose hoodie and a pair of track pants, as if to hide her body, ashamed of what she had done; even her hair was not styled in its usual long braid, instead tied up into a messy bun, purplish bags under her eyes, he had never seen it happen, he didn’t even think it was possible, but had Maki been crying? The coffee table held two small coasters, with slightly steaming cups of coffee resting on them.

“Uh.” Maki says, standing up, sitting down, and then deciding to stand, her hands move awkwardly, unsure of themselves, she gives up and shoves them into the hoodie pocket, “H-Hey! Oh, uh, hello?” She groans, “Please, come in.” She says defeatedly, gesturing to the couch.

Vi’s face is completely unreadable; she watches Maki with unfeeling eyes, and Erik isn’t even sure she’ll sit down.

So, he takes the lead, and steps forward, giving his older stepsister a tight smile before sitting down, closest to her. She had moved to a separate single-seater recliner, to give the couple the full couch.

Much to his relief, Vi sits down next to him, leaning back with crossed arms.

The silence is suffocating.

“I…” Maki says, eyes downcast, “I want to say I’m really sorry. It got away from me and I just… Was really worried about Erik… I’d only—“

“Are you sorry? You can’t even look at me.”

Erik glances sideways at Vi, her voice coming in cold and deadly, it’s incredibly scary, he’s never seen this side of her. A lot of different sides of people he thought he knew today.

Maki swallows nervously, looking up at Erik first and then Vi.

“I—“

“I fucking — thought we were friends. Like, I’ve only ever clicked with one person like that before.” Vi almost growls. Her voice like daggers in Maki.

Maki has nothing to say.

“I had. SO. Much fucking fun with you, Maki. I was going to share you with Max. And then with Erik. I thought you would get it… Fuck.” Vi’s voice wavers, the hurt seeping through with the anger and frustration.

Vi shakes her head, “That’s not even the fucking point! Who cares about the fucking stupid sexual stuff? I thought we were fucking becoming friends. Outside of the club, outside of drinking. I thought you could be someone I fucking trust for real! Someone I could just… Be with..”

It’s more hurt now.

Maki looks on the verge of throwing up, just a red-haired girl wrapped in her darkness.

“Vi…” Erik says, putting a hand on hers.

“This whole fucking time…. Maki.”

His stepsister looks up.

“The whole time. You were just trying to blackmail me.”

“For me…” Erik gently reminds her, doing his best to remain Swiss.

“Yeah… It’s the only reason I’ve come here.” Vi says, addressing Maki, “Because I care for Erik.”

Maki sits in the silence, Vi’s coffee going cold, Erik’s sitting half drunk.

“I’m sorry.” Maki manages.

“But you can’t fucking look at me.”

Erik clenches his eyes shut, Vi’s nails digging into his hand.

Maki looks up, “I really am. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.” Her golden eyes staring right at Vi, “I was… Going to say somethin’, and ask, or somethin’… I started to suspect…”

“Convenient. You were going to say something, huh?”

Maki flinches, “I promise. I was going to… But I get it… I just… I didn’t know. I thought you were just cheatin’; I had to look out for my lil bro.”

“So you cooked up a convoluted plan that was destined to fail.”

“Yeah… I didn’t think you would be…. Shit, amazing.” Maki says.

“Don’t lie to me.” Vi snarls.

Maki shakes her head, “I’m not! That’s why I got so, fuck, confused? The more we hung out the more I started to doubt my plan; I swear the last few times I didn’t even like, record you or anythin’’.”

The room is silent.

“You recorded me?”

Maki startles, “No, no! Like, apart from the security cameras, I didn’t go out of my way to do it anyway! I mean like, mentally. I didn’t like, even clock you like, flirtin’ or anythin’!”

Maki sighs, “I get it. If we can’t be friends. And like, I know you don’t believe me. But I really clicked with you too. God… I wanted to be your friend, I wanted to hang, I wanted to do shit with you and just like… Fuck… Be girls together.”

Maki really finds Vi’s eyes, both sets of eyes prickling with tears, “I’ve never met someone who I get along with so perfectly… I… I would date you myself!” A small laugh breaks through.

And much to the spectators' surprise, he turns to see a small smile playing on Vi’s lips.

“I won’t… Ask you to forgive me… But… I hope… We can hang out again… At some point, even if it means Erik is there too. I just… I want to be your friend, Vi.”

Erik has truly never see Maki be this heartfelt.

“Maki. Promise me.”

“Yeah?”

“Some of the friendship was real. That it wasn’t some freak manipulation. Erik told me about your high school escapade with that dad. Tell me this isn’t the same.”

Maki glances at Erik, her eyebrow cocking with question, but she looks at Vi, “I swear to God. After the first two or three times, it was real… It got to a point, that I was just using it as an excuse to hang out with you. I… Didn’t even care about…” She looks apologetically at Erik.

He just shakes his head, smiling gently.

“Okay.” Vi responds, standing up, “You coming?” She asks Erik.

He looks at Maki and gives her a quick reassuring smile, he puts a hand on her shoulder gently before turning with Vi.

“How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know yet.” Vi says softly, staring out the window of the car.

“She was sincere.” Erik puts a hand on her thigh.

“I could tell,” She replies with a sigh, “I’ll think about it… It still pisses me off… But, I don’t know if I believe her. Urgh.”

She groans, sinking into the seat.

“Take your time.”

“I know. Maybe, I’ll feel better to just get her back somehow.”

Erik laughs, grateful that Vi seems to be in a somewhat light mood despite the conversation.

“You want to get those loaded fries you love so much?”

She turns with a thankful grin.